4731.15
Regulating massage therapy and cosmetic therapy.

(1)
The
state medical board also shall regulate the following limited branches of
medicine: massage therapy and cosmetic therapy, and to the extent specified in
section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, naprapathy and mechanotherapy. The board
shall adopt rules governing the limited branches of medicine under its
jurisdiction. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the
Revised Code.

(a)
"Cosmetic therapy" means the permanent removal
of hair from the human body through the use of electric modalities approved by
the board for use in cosmetic therapy, and additionally may include the
systematic friction, stroking, slapping, and kneading or tapping of the face,
neck, scalp, or shoulders.

(b)
"Massage therapy" means the treatment of disorders of
the human body by the manipulation of soft tissue through the systematic
external application of massage techniques including touch, stroking, friction,
vibration, percussion, kneading, stretching, compression, and joint movements
within the normal physiologic range of motion; and adjunctive thereto, the
external application of water, heat, cold, topical preparations, and mechanical
devices.

(B)
A
certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine issued by the state
medical board is valid for a two-year period, except when an initial
certificate is issued for a shorter period or when division (C)(2) of this
section is applicable. The certificate may be renewed in accordance with
division (C) of this section.

(1)
Except
as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, all of the following apply with
respect to the renewal of certificates to practice a limited branch of
medicine:

(a)
Each
person seeking to renew a certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine
shall apply for biennial registration with the state medical board on a renewal
application form prescribed by the board. An applicant for renewal shall pay a
biennial registration fee of one hundred dollars.

(b)
At
least six months before a certificate expires, the board shall mail or cause to
be mailed a renewal notice to the certificate holder's last known
address.

(c)
At
least three months before a certificate expires, the certificate holder shall
submit the renewal application and biennial registration fee to the
board.

(2)
Beginning with the 2009 registration period, the board shall implement a
staggered renewal system that is substantially similar to the staggered renewal
system the board uses under division (B) of section 4731.281 of the Revised
Code.

(D)
All
persons who hold a certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine issued
by the state medical board shall provide the board written notice of any change
of address. The notice shall be submitted to the board not later than thirty
days after the change of address.

(E)
A
certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine shall be automatically
suspended if the certificate holder fails to renew the certificate in
accordance with division (C) of this section. Continued practice after the
suspension of the certificate to practice shall be considered as practicing in
violation of sections 4731.34 and 4731.41 of the Revised Code.

If a certificate to
practice has been suspended pursuant to this division for two years or less, it
may be reinstated. The board shall reinstate the certificate upon an
applicant's submission of a renewal application and payment of the biennial
registration fee and the applicable monetary penalty. With regard to
reinstatement of a certificate to practice cosmetic therapy, the applicant also
shall submit with the application a certification that the number of hours of
continuing education necessary to have a suspended certificate reinstated have
been completed, as specified in rules the board shall adopt in accordance with
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The penalty for reinstatement shall be
twenty-five dollars.

If a certificate has
been suspended pursuant to this division for more than two years, it may be
restored. Subject to section 4731.222 of the Revised Code, the board may
restore the certificate upon an applicant's submission of a restoration
application, the biennial registration fee, and the applicable monetary penalty
and compliance with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code. The board
shall not restore to an applicant a certificate to practice unless the board,
in its discretion, decides that the results of the criminal records check do
not make the applicant ineligible for a certificate issued pursuant to section
4731.17 of the Revised Code. The penalty for restoration is fifty
dollars.